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Senate Engrossed |
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State of Arizona Senate Forty-ninth Legislature First Regular Session 2009
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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1045 |
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A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
On the death of the honorable jake flake.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Senator Jake Flake passed away at the age of seventy-two on June 8, 2008 in Show Low, Arizona, from injuries he sustained after being thrown from a horse.
Franklin Lars Flake was a proud Arizonan whose roots here ran deep. He was born to Virgil Maeser and Gerda (Hendrickson) Flake on August 4, 1935, in Snowflake, AZ. His father gave him the nickname "Jake" when he was a baby and he continued to be known as this throughout his life. He graduated from Snowflake High School in 1953, and later was a member of Arizona State University’s first graduating class in 1960, a fact he frequently mentioned with pride. From 1955 though 1957, Jake Flake served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southwest Indian Mission. He maintained his efforts to communicate in Indian dialects throughout his life.
On June 19, 1959, Jake Flake married Mary Louise Skouson in the L.D.S. Mesa Arizona Temple. They went on to raise thirteen children, and became grandparents to fifty-eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Jake Flake worked his whole life on the ranch where he was raised. He and three of his brothers purchased the ranch from their dad, forming the F-Bar Cattle Company, which marketed Beefmaster bulls and heifers all over the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
In 1996, Jake Flake was elected to the Arizona State Legislature where he served until the time of his death. Jake Flake served in the House of Representatives for eight years, including two years as Speaker of the House, before going on to serve two terms as state senator. Senator Flake ably served his constituents in northeastern Arizona, and his dedication, tenacity and humor earned him the respect of all who knew him. Jake Flake's integrity and commitment to bettering the world around him were an inspiration to many and an example to all. He was held in high regard by his colleagues on both sides of the political aisle.
Despite the demands of his political and ranching endeavors, Jake Flake gave freely of his time, energy and expertise to numerous civic and community organizations. He served on two school boards, an irrigation district, a hospital operating board and a farm credit council's board of directors. He also served eighteen years on the Grand Canyon Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and volunteered on the Arizona Rural Health Association Board, the Blue Ridge Natural Resources Working Group, the Arizona 4-H Foundation and the Snowflake Heritage Council. Jake Flake also served his church in several callings, including counselor to a Stake President and a mission President, a member of the High Council, Stake President and nursery leader.
Jake Flake will be greatly missed by his wife, Mary Louise, children Shon (Pamela), Crystal (Darrell) Petersen, Penny (Dean) Bauer, Douglas (Jennifer Beth), Celeste (Jeff) Dana, Wynn (Kami), Travis (Teresa), Tyler (Jennifer Lee), Brandon (Jennifer Marie), Mindy (Chad) Sanders, Amy (David) Orr and Kayla (Jeff) Larson, fifty-eight grandchildren, two great‑grandchildren and six of his seven siblings. He was preceded in death by his son, Darin, and by a grandson, Joseph Sanders.
Therefore
Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the Members of the Legislature express sincere gratitude for the Honorable Jake Flake's years of dedicated service and extend their deepest sympathies to his family and many friends.